Sterilizing device



3 Sheets-Sheet l C. B. COOK STERILIZING DEVICE Flled Aug '7 1953 Nov 19,1935. c. B. QQQM STERILIZING DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 26 JD 55IIZ\IVENTOR. C B. COOK ZMELEQQ Nmn, 19,, 1935. c. B. (300%STERILIZING DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. C. B.(300%.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFEQE 12 Claims.

This invention rel-ates to sterilizing devices.

The general object is to provide an apparatus for sterilizingcontainers.

A more specific object is to provide a sterilizer for passing fluidsinto and through citrus field boxes.

A further object is to provide a means which forces heated products ofcombustion through an open container.

Another object is to provide an apparatus including a container havingan entrance and an exit together with novel means for sterilizing acontainer while it passes through the apparatus.

Another object is to provide a novel apparatus for forcing heatedproducts of combustion through an open top receptacle.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation taken on line ofFig. 2, showing my apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing the conveyor members;

Fig. '7 is a section taken on line '|'l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have indicated mysterilizing device generally at Ill.

As shown the device It) is mounted on a suitable frame II and includes alower tank l2. In this tank is a valve |3 which is controlled by a floatM to maintain a water level |5 in this tank. The tank is provided withan over-flow l6 which communicates through a fitting I! with a sewerline l8. The fitting I! also communicates through a drain pipe H] withthe tank l2. The drain pipe l9 may be opened for use by turning a valvel9 so that the tank may be cleaned out when desired. Water is suppliedto the valve |3 through a supply pipe 20.

Mounted within the tank I2, I show an aerating device indicated as awheel 2| mounted on a shaft 22 and having vanes 23 thereon. The shaft 22is disposed above the normal water level l5 and as this shaft rotatesthe wheel 2| the vanes 23 agitate and stir up the water and aerate thesame. The shaft 22 passes through the Wall of the tank I2 and has apulley 24 thereon which is driven by a belt 25 from a pulley on a shaft26. The shaft 28 is secured to the armature shaft of an electric motor27 which is mounted on a platform 28.

The upper portion of the tank I 2 is closed by a removable closure 38which is disposed on an 5 angle-iron 3| as shown in Fig. 1. Above thetank 12, I show a sterilizing chamber 32 which has an entranceway 33 andan exitway 34. The entrance 33 and the exit 34 have inwardly pro-J'ecting canvas or rubber strips 35 and 36, re- 10 spectively, about theperiphery thereof and these strips are of a size to engage a box B as itenters the chamber 32 and as it passes therefrom and thereby preventpassage of fluid around the box.

The chamber 32 includes a bottom 31, sides 38 15 and end top portions39. The bottom 31 is in alignment with the closure 30. Intermediate theend top portions 39 the chamber is enlarged as at 43 and in thisenlarged portion I mount a movable plate 4| shown as having at one end20 a member 42 slidably mounted on pin 43. The weight of the plate 4| iscounter-balanced by springs 44 having one end attached to the plate 4|and the other end attached to the bottom of a closure 44 which closesthe upper portion of 25 the part of the chamber.

The plate 4| is provided with longitudinal ribs 45 on which weights 46slide. The Weights are clamped to the ribs 45 by clamping screws 41. Inthis manner any desired balance of the plate 4| can be secured byshifting the weights 46. Thus it will be apparent that the plate 4| mayby loosening the screws be adjusted after which the screws 4! aretightened. This allows the drag on a box passing to be adjusted.

Within the chamber 32 at each end thereof I provide a conveyor frame at50 which has conveyor rolls 5| mounted thereon. An endless conveyor belt52 mounted on a pulley 53 delivers boxes at the entranceway 33 and asecond endless conveyor 54 mounted on a pulley 54' conveys boxes fromthe exit way 34.

Intermediate the conveyors 5D I mount a pair of shafts 55 and 56 and oneach shaft I arrange two sprockets 51 and two sprockets 58. Over onthese sprockets I arrange a pair of conveyor chains 59, the upper reachof which is in substantial alignment with the upper portion of theconveyor rolls 5|. The shaft 55 is driven by a speed reduction gear 58from the motor 21 as shown in. Fig. '7.

Intermediate the chains 59, I mount a plate 6t and between each chainand the adjacent outer wall of the tank I mount another plate 6| as 55shown. in Fig. '7. The plates 683 and iii are supported on transversemembers 5| as shown.

The plate 68 is slotted as at 62 and in this slot I mount a lever 63which is mounted on a shaft 63'. This lever projects in the path ofmovement the boxes on the chains 59 and the lever is depressed to rockthe shaft 63' as each box passes thereover. The shaft 63 has an arm 64thereon and this arm is slotted at 65 to receive a pin on a rod 66 whichis connected to a piston 65' in. a cylinder 61. This cylindercommunicates through a pipe 68' with an oil supply tank 55 and alsocommunicates through a pipe iii with a conduit to be presentlydescribed. The construction is such that each time the lever 61' isdepressed it forces a quantity of oil from the cylinder ii'l through thepipe 1!! and each time the lever moves to the position shown in Fig. l

by the action of a spring it! the cylinder 6'! is again filled with oilfrom the tank 69.

It will be understood that the pipe 88 includes a one-way valve 58 whichallows oil to pass to the cylinder 61 but prevents return of oil fromthe cylinder 6'! to the tank 59 and that the pipe it! includes a one-wayvalve at 71] which prevents oil re-entering the cylinder from the pipe18. The tank 12 and the chamber 32 are provided' with outer metalmembers which are spaced from the walls of. the tank and. chamber toprovide a space outside of the tank and chamber. This space is exhaustedto provide a partial vacuum to thereby heat insulate the container andchamber.

A gas burner is mountedbeneath the container i2 and is provided with asupply pipe line 86 controlled. by a valve 81'. A thermostat operatedvalve 88 to be later described. controls the flow of gas to the burner85. The products of combustion from the burner 85 impinge upon the lowerwall of the tank l2 and heat this lower wall and the water in the tank.and then pass to a stack 89, which has a roof 90 thereon, thence intothe tank I2 whence they are drawn through an opening 9! in the tank intoa conduit 92 which communicates at 93 with a blower 94, the outlet ofwhich communicates through a collapsible diaphragm 96 with a dischargeopening 91 on the plate 4!.

The heated products of combustion pass into the chamber 32 anddownwardly into a box B, the open face of which is beneath the outlet9?. The volume of heated products delivered by the blower is such thatthe heated products of combustion together with the oilwhich has beentaken from the tank 69 and injected into the conduit 92 surge throughthe box B passing through all cracks and crevicesand permeating thepores of the box to destroy mealy' bugs and other sources ofcontamination to fruit on the surface of the box and in the cracksthereof. A metal box may also be treated with my apparatus.

. From the chamber 32' the products of combustion pass through anopeningI00 and through a conduit Hi! to another opening [02 in the container l2so: that the circulation is first through the conduit 92 and thenthrough the conduit Hie. Between the openings 5! and 12 I provide atransverse partition H33 in the chamber 12 (see Fig. 8). This partitioncauses the circulation from the aperture I62 to the aperture 91 to passadjacent the wheel 2!. The conduit 92 includes anupwardly extendingportion 92 the passageway through which is controlled by a damper H35which is actuated by a pivoted plate I96 positioned in the conduit 95and the construction is such that when the blower 94 is operating, thedraft through the conduit 95 swings the plate H35 downward therebyclosing the damper Hi5 and when the blower 94 ceases to operate, aspring 1% swings the plate I96 upward thereby opening the damper 505 toallow the products of combustion to pass to the atmosphere.

The plate we includes an operating arm I05 which is connected by a rodN95 to an operating arm of the damper IE5.

As shown the thermostat operated valve 88 includes a thermo-responsiverod In! which is positioned in the chamber :2. The thermostat valvedevice 88 is mounted adjacent one end of a bar ms the opposite end ofwhich is secured to the frame H as at 169. The rod I81. extends throughsleeve members H0 at each end of the housing and is connected at one endwith the thermo valve 68 and at the opposite end is se-' cured to a barH2. The bar H.2- is; secured adjacent one end to the frame ll as at H3and at opposite end to the. bar [88 as at H4; The rod iii? is free. inthe: sleeves Hit so. that expansion or contraction. of the housing doesnot move the thermorod. When the temperature of. the water in. the tank12 rises to a predetermined degree the rodifll' expands and operates thevalve 88 to reduce the flow of gas to the. burner $5 and whenthetemperature of the water falls below a predetermined degree the rod I01contracts to operate the valve 88 to increase the. flow of gas to theburner...

As shown each conveyor frame 50 is pivotally mounted adjacent its outerendon a rod H6: and the opposite end is. supported by a threaded memberM1. The member H1 is positioned. ina threaded boss. M8 and at the lowerend of the member HZ, I provide. a hand wheel H9. To. prevent.accidental. movement of the member ll'l I provide a-lock nut 20..

A conduit iZl extends from the tank 1.2 and. opens. through an opening.I22 into a chamber 123 beneath the oilsupplytank The heated productsv ofcombustion enter the. chamber I23 and serve to maintain the. oil in thecontainer 69 in a heated condition.

For flushing the tank i2 I providea large water supply pipe 24 having a.control valve I24 interposed therein,v

The blower 94 is. shown as driven by an electric motor I25. The end ofthe pipe H! opposite the cylinder 61? enters the conduit 93 as indicatedat.

i235. Thus each time a box operates the piston 55 of the. cylinder 6.! aquantity of oil is. sprayed into the conduit 93 and passes into thesterilizing chamber 32 with. fumes forced. thereinto by the blower 9.4.

From the. foregoing. description it will be apparent that as the boxespass through my improved apparatus the heated pro-duets of combustiontogether with the oil injected therein will be. forced into and throughthe cracks. in the boxes. and into the. pores thereofi to thoroughlyimpregnate. the same thus destroying any mealy bugsor other animal orvegetable growth and also greatly adding to the life of the container.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exit, aconveyor in said chamber, means to force heated products of combustioninto. the chamber, means. to inject oil into the heated. productsv ofcombustion. prior to the entrance of the heated products of combustion.into the chamber and means operated. by amtainer on said conveyor toactuate said oil operating means.

2. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exit, aconveyor in said chamber, means associated with said chamber to produceheated products of combustion, a tank adapted to contain water, means todirect the heated products of combustion into the tank, means tohumidity the heated products of combustion while in the tank, meansaifording communication between the tank and the chamber and means todraw the heated products of combustion from the tank and discharge intothe container.

3. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exitway, aconveyor in said chamber, said chamber including a bottom, sides and atop, said chamber including a discharge outlet, a conduit, meansconnecting said conduit and said discharge outlet, a tank, a heatingdevice, means to discharge fluid from the heating device into the tank,means communicating with said tank, means to direct the fluid from thetank into the chamber and into a box on the conveyor, and means toreturn the fluid from the chamber to the tank.

4. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exit, aconveyor in said chamber, means to force heated fluid into the chamber,means to inject oil into the heated fluid prior to the entrance of thefluid into the chamber, means operated by a container on said conveyorto actuate said oil injecting means, a container for oil, means to placesaid container in communication with said oil injecting means and meansto heat said oil container.

5. In a sterilizer, a chamber having an entranceway and an exit,conveyor means in said chamber adapted to move receptacles therethrough,a tank associated with said chamber, a heating means associated withsaid tank and arranged to discharge heated air into said tank, and meansto direct the heated air from said tank and to discharge it into thechamber, said chamber including spaced evacuated walls, said lastmentioned means including a discharge opening disposed to discharge intothe open side of a box in the chamber.

6. In a sterilizer, a chamber having an entranceway and an exit,flexible means in said entranceway and in said exit to engage four sidesof the end of a receptacle, conveyor means in said chamber adapted tomove receptacles therethrough, a tank adjacent said chamber, a burnerassociated with said tank, said burner including a stack for theproducts of combustion, said stack discharging into said tank, means todraw the products of combustion from said tank and to discharge theproducts of combustion into the chamber, said last mentioned meansincluding a discharge opening disposed to discharge into the open sideof a box into the chamber, and means to moisten the products ofcombustion.

'7. In a sterilizer, a chamber having an entranceway and an exit,flexible means in said entranceway and in said exit to engage four sidesof the end of a receptacle, conveyor means in said chamber adapted tomove receptacles therethrough, a tank below said chamber, a burnerassociated with said tank, said burner including a stack for theproducts of combustion, said stack discharging into said tank, means tosupply water to said tank, means to draw the products of combustion fromsaid tank and to discharge the products of combustion into the chamber,said last mentioned means including a discharge opening disposed todischarge into the open side of a box located in the chamber, means toinject ing means into the tank, means communicating with said tank todirect the products of combustion from the tank into the chamber andinto a box on the conveyor, means to return the products of combustionfrom the chamber to the tank, thermostatically controlled means tocontrol the operation of the water heating-means, a container for oiland injecting means adapted to inject oil from the container into theconduit.

9. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exitway, aconveyor in said chamber, said chamber including a bottom, sides and atop, said top including a discharge outlet, a conduit, means connectingsaid conduit and said discharge outlet, a tank adapted to contain water,means to heat the water, means to discharge the products of combustionfrom the heating means into the tank, means to moisten the heatedproducts of combustion in the tank, means communicating with said tankto direct the products of combustion from the tank into the chamber andinto and through a box on the conveyor, means to return the products ofcombustion from the chamber to the tank, means to control the movementof the products of combustion in the conduit, thermostaticallycontrolled means to control the operation of the water heating means, acontainer for oil, and injecting means adapted to inject oil from thecontainer into the conduit.

10. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exitway, aconveyor in said chamber, said chamber including a bottom, sides and atop, said top including an intermediate portion, means to adjustablymount said intermediate portion for movement towards and from saidconveyor, said intermediate portion including a discharge outlet, aconduit, extensible means connecting said conduit and said dischargeoutlet, a tank adapted to contain water,

means to heat the water, means to discharge the products of combustionfrom the heating means into the tank, means to moisten the heatedproducts of combustion in the tank, means communicating with said tankto direct the products of combustion from the tank into the chamber andinto and through a box on the conveyor, means to return the products ofcombustion from the chamber to the tank, means to control the movementof the products of combustion in the conduit, thermostaticallycontrolled means to control the operation of the water heating means, acontainer for oil, means to heat the container and injecting meansadapted to inject oil from the container into the conduit and meansoperated by a container on said conveyor to actuate said injectingmeans.

11. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exitway, aconveyor in said chamber, said chamber including a bottom, sides and atop, said top including an intermediate portion, means to adjustablymount said intermediate portion for movement towards andl'from saidconveyor, said intermediate portion including a discharge outlet, aconduit, extensible means connecting said conduit and said dischargeoutlet, a tank adapted to contain'water, means to heat the water, meansto discharge the products of combustion from the heating means into thetank, means to moisten the heated products of combustion in the tank,means communicating with said tank to direct the products of combustionfrom the tank into the chamber and into and through a box on theconveyor,

means to return the products of combustion from the chamber to the tank,means to control the movement of th products of combustion in theconduit, thermostatically controlled means to control the operation ofthe Water heating means, a container for oil, and injecting meansadapted to inject oil from the container into the conduit.

12. In a sterilizer a chamber having an entranceway and an exit, aconveyor for open sided boxes in said chamber, there being a sterilizingstation within said chamber, means to form a closure for the open sideof the box while at the sterilizing station, means associated with saidchamber to produce heated gases under pressure, Q

means to deliver the heated gases under pressure into a box at thesterilizing station, means to inject sterilizing material into theheated gases prior to their entrance into a box in the chamber, andmeans to prevent the box being forced II from its sterilizing station bythe sterilizing gases 1 under pressure which enter the box.

CHARLES B. COOK.

